Label applicator



March 18, 1969 CHESS 3,433,697

LABEL APPLICATOR Filed July 15, 1965 Sheet of 2 INVENTOR FRANK G. CHESS Lifl) ATTORNEY March 18, 1969 F. G. CHESS 3,433,697

LABEL APPLICATOR Filed July 15. 1965 Sheet of 2 E INVENTOR FRANK G. CHESS mm ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofice 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for applying labels to containers or the like utilizes a pair of roller members which together present a plane-convex surface, and pivotally move in opposite directions away from each other to press the label against the container in a divergent rolling motion.

The present invention relates to the application of labels and more particularly relates to a device for smoothly applying to a surface labels, decorative sheets and the like having tacky adhesive compositions coating a face thereof.

A device embodying the present invention may be employed in the application, to flat or curved surfaces, of labels bearing coatings of glues, viscid thermoplastic compositions, tacky pressure-sensitive adhesives, or the like and is particularly useful in the application of thin or low caliper adhesive sheets.

The aggressive tackiness of many labeling adhesives presents a particular problem in the application of thin labels or decorative sheets in that the immediate adherence of the adhesive coated face of a particular sheet to the surface it contacts often results in the entrapment of air pockets or bubbles which detract greatly from the ultimate appearance of the labeled article or surface. Great care is often required, therefore, in the application of individual adhesive sheets at the expense of time which is at a premium in the automated machine labeling of containers and the like.

In order to avoid the entrapment of unsightly and otherwise undesirable air bubbles in the initial application of a tacky label, it is particularly advantageous to control the contact between the adhesive label face and the surface to be labeled. Preferably such contact is accomplished through a succession of incremental contacts across one dimension of the label. For example, a label of generally rectangular shape having a tacky adhesive face may be smoothly applied to a flat surface by contacting one lateral edge of the label with the surface and subsequently rolling the remainder of the tacky face into contact with the surface in a direction across the label beginning with the initial lateral edge. In a comparable manner a progressive sweeping contact between an adhesive label and the surface of a circular cylindrical body may be obtained by rolling the body across the upwardly exposed face of a label lying on a flat surface.

Various types of mechanical apparatus have been devised to utilize the rolling contact method of label application; however, these types have been restricted in their operation to the labeling of planar or circular cylindrical bodies. Such apparatus have little capability in the labeling of irregularly shaped bodies, for example, containers of oval cross-section or those presenting surfaces of compound contours.

Labeling apparatus providing cycled label feed and application wherein labels are pressed onto a receiving surface by a reciprocating member moving in a path normal to such receiving surface have found substantial acceptance in the field of common labels, that is, in the application of adhesive labels of substantial thickness where the presence of entrapped air at the adhesive face is not particularly offensive. Apparatus of this type and the 3,433,697 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 operation thereof are described in US. Patents 2,227,816 and 2,279,724 to Von Hofe. The operation of these apparatus is not, however, generally adapted for the application of fine adhesive labels, such as films, decal transfer labels and the like, since the overall instantaneous contact of lable adhesive surface and receiving surface is extremely conducive to air entrapment, as previously noted.

The labeling device of the present invention is especially adapted for use on such apparatus having reciprocating pressure members and provides a means for accomplishing the preferred rolling contact application of adhesive abels.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide means for smoothly applying labels having tacky adhesive coatings. A further object of the invention is to provide rolling applicator means in a labeling apparatus having a label pressing member moving in a path normal to a label receiving surface. Another object of the invention is to provide a label applicator device capable of pressing adhesive labels into smooth intimate contact with irregular body surfaces. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a means for eliminating entrapped air from between an adhesive label and the surface upon which the label is applied.

The present invention may be more readily described With reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic representation of labeling apparatus including a device of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 shows an end view of a preferred embodiment of a labeling device according to the present invention;

FIGURE 3 shows a view of the device of FIGURE 2 in section along line 33; and

FIGURE 4- is a diagrammatic representation of the operation of the device shown in FIGURE 2.

The labeling apparatus diagrammatically shown in FIG- URE l is described in great detail, with respect to its construction and operation, in the aforementioned patents to Von Hofe. Such apparatus generally comprises a label supply station 2 for supporting a supply of labels, such as a stack of individually cut and printed labels 4; a labeling station comprising a support 6 for a container 8 or other body to be labeled; label transport means 10 for delivering a label from the supply station to a surface of the container 8 in position at the labeling station; and applicator means 12 located at the labeling station and adapted for movement toward the positioned container 8 to press a delivered label into contact with the container surface.

The operation of the labeling apparatus is controlled by appropriate mechanical linkages, cams, and the like for transmitting power from an ordinary source, such as an electric motor (not shown), and provides for repeated cycles of alternate label delivery and application. As depicted in FIGURE 1 the labeling apparatus provides a stationery rail or track 14 supporting a movable collar 16 which reciprocally traverses the rail 14 under the influence of driving arm 17 during a labeling cycle. Associated for travel with collar 16 is a foot 18 which is adapted by vacuum or other appropriate means to lift an individual label from the stack 4 at the supply station. In a first operation of the labeling process the foot 18 is positioned adjacent the supply station 2 and lifts the uppermost label from the stack 4. Traversing rail 14 label, transport means 10 delivers the label to the labeling station. In the event that the labels employed bear a heat-activatable adhesive coating, foot 18 may be heated by appropriate means so that during the transport operation such coating may be activated to adhesive tackiness.

A stationary collar 20 is affixed to rail 14 and supports rail 22 for reciprocal movement therein under the influence of driving arm 23. Attached to rail 22 is a label applicator device 12 of the present invention. Driven from the power source by appropriate camming means, arm 23 lifts rail 22 and its associated labeling device 12, displacing the latter from the surface of a container 8 or other body positioned at support 6 of the labeling station. While labeling device 12 is so displaced label transport device 10 traverses rail 14, interposes foot 18 between container 8 and label applicator device 12, and lightly deposits on the surface of container 8 the tackyfaced label 9 transported from the supply station. In order to eliminate pressure contact between foot 18 and the surface of container 8, and thus avoid tenacious adherence of label 9 with accompanying air entrapment, it is advisable to adjust the lifting means associated with foot 18 so that label 9 is released from foot 18 to be carried to container 8 by gravity or by a light air blast emanating from ducts contained in foot 18 for that purpose.

Power source cramming means withdraws driving arm 17 and causes traverse of transport device 10 toward the label supply station in preparation for the next labeling cycle. The camming means then initiates the depression stroke of arm 23 forcing label applicator device 12 into compressive engagement with label 9 lying in the desired position at the surface of container 8. The final operation in the labeling cycle withdraws applicator 12 from contact with label 9 on container 8 in order that the labeled container may be removed and replaced with the next unit to be labeled. Transport device 10 is normally at this time in position adjacent the label supply station in preparation for the lifting of the next label for delivery to the labeling station.

A preferred embodiment of a label applicator device 12 of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 2 and comprises basically a pair of symmetrical quarter-cylinder roller members 25, 26 pivotally mounted on pairs of support arms 28, 29, which arms are in turn pivotally mounted on support bracket 30. Upstanding member 31 of bracket 30 has a pair of slotted holes 27 for demountably attaching the applicator device to rail 22 (FIGURE 1) by means of a pair of bolts 21.

Support arm pairs 28, 29 are pivotally mounted at one end upon bracket 30 by means of shoulder bolts 32. The other ends of the support arms are pivotally attached to the roller members by shoulder bolts 34. By such an arrangement a system of swinging pivots is provided whereby each of the roller member 25, 26 is able to roll independently of the other upon its own respective convex surface. Normally, that is while the applicator device is at rest, the roller members 25, 26 are biased into contact at a common face 33 lying on the median plane of symmetry by a convenient number of tension springs 36 attached to pairs of anchor pins 37 affixed respectively in each of the roller members. The surfaces 38, 40 of the individual roller members are thus normally contiguous at the median plane and form the composite surface of a single roller element in the present applicator device. In order to provide an effective roller element, however, the surfaces 38, 40 should have such respective plano-convex configurations as to form a composite surface of planoconvex configuration having a vertex 42 lying on the median plane. Thus, when, during the operation of the applicator device, as will be later described, the roller element is moved in a direction parallel to the median plane and the surface of the roller element is pressed into contact with a plane surface lying perpendicular to the median plane, the initial contact between the roller element surface and such plane surface will be along the single line of the vertex 42.

The basic operation of the present label applicator device is schematically shown in FIGURE 4 which depicts the device at the instant of contact with a label to be applied (solid lines) and at the instant of the completion of the pressure stroke of the applicator, that is when the label is fully applied (dotted lines).

An article to be labeled, in this instance a bottle 8 of oval cross-section, is fixed in position by a support 6 molded to conform to the configuration of the bottle. During the label delivery operation, previously referred to, a label 9 bearing a tacky adhesive surface is lightly laid in position in adhesive contact with the surface of the bottle 8 in such a manner that the longitudinal median lines of label and bottle surface coincide. Immediately upon retraction of the label delivery means, the label applicator device 12 moves as a unit toward the surface of label 9 during the first pressure stroke of the aforementioned reciprocating application cycle of the labeling apparatus. The support 6 is preferably located so that the vertex 42 of the roller element contacts the lightly affixed label 9 at the longitudinal median line of the label. In this manner a minimum length of pressure stroke is required to fully afiix a label.

Continued movement of support bracket 30 toward label 9 transmits pressure through support arm pairs 28, 29 to roller members 25, 26. The longitudinal axes of support arm pairs 28, 29 along which the force of the pressure stroke is vectored extend to respective points on roller member faces 38, 40 lying outside the base lines of roller members 25, 26, which base lines, at the initial contact with label 9, coincide with vertex line 42. Application pressure thus forces roller members 25, 26 to diverge and to pivot, at the label surface, about base line 42. Such divergent movement of roller members 25, 26 cause the respective support arm pairs to rotate about pivots 32. As a result the extensions of the longitudinal axes of the arms continue to lie outside the respective base lines of contact between the roller members 25, 26 and label 9 with further divergent movement of the roller members resulting.

The described divergent movement of roller members 25, 26 causes similar divergence of the respective base lines of contact between such members and label 9. The reseulting rolling action presses the adhesive face of label 9 into firm contact with the surface of bottle 8 at the diverging contact lines in sequential increments from the initial center line of contact outwardly to the edge of the label. The expulsion of bubbles or air pockets which might otherwise remain entrapped between the label and bottle surface is thus ensured.

Support 6 is preferably located along the path of movement of bracket 30 such that at the conclusion of the pressure stroke of the labeling apparatus sufficient divergence of roller members 25, 26 will have been obtained to ensure complete rolling coverage of the particular label used. Greater coverage may readily be obtained by locating support 6 closer to the origin of the pressure stroke.

The position of the roller members at the conclusion of the pressure stroke will be similar to that shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 4. Upon the return of bracket 30 during the recovery stroke of the application cycle, roller members 25, 26 and their respective support arm pairs 28, 29 retrace their pressure stroke movements under the influence of the biasing means and are finally retracted as a unit from contact with the labeled bottle in preparation for the application of a subsequent label.

It is preferable that roller members 25, 26 retain a symmetrical disposition about the initial median plane during application cycles in order that successive labels may be smoothly applied in the desired manner. Stop blocks 45 are affixed to bracket 30 in a position to abut at least one support arm of each of pairs 28, 29, such as at arm 28' in FIGURE 3, in order to prevent lateral movement of the roller element with respect to bracket 30 and ensure the location of vertex 42 at the median plane at initial contact with a label. To further ensure the symmetrical disposition of roller members 25, 26 with respect to one another prior to contact with a label surface, the members may be provided respectively with a convenient number of fixed pins 47 and matching sockets 48 which will be engaged while roller members 25, 26 are biased into contiguous relation at face 33.

The compressive contact between roller member faces 38, 40 and the surfaces of the label 9 and bottle 8 will normally retain the symmetry of the roller element during the pressure stroke of the application cycle. The maintenance of symmetry may be aided during the recovery stroke with the roller members 24, 25 guided to proper engagement by means of a torsion spring 49 attached to bracket 30 on a shoulder screw 50. The legs of spring 49 each respectively slideably engage a pin 37' (FIGURE 3) affixed within roller members 24, 25 and operate in conjunction with tension springs 36 to guide the divergence and convergence of roller members 24, 25 during the label application cycle.

In order to provide greater conformity with variances in a bottle surface and to provide an optimum degree of compression between the surfaces 38, 40 of the roller members and the label and bottle surfaces, the roller members 25, 26 preferably comprise outer layers 52, 53 of rubber or other resilient material. Composite layers comprising a /2 inch thick inner layer of durometer closed cell neoprene sponge rubber and a inch thick outer layer of 60 durometer silicone rubber may be laminated to the surfaces of aluminum roller member bodies to provide desirable performance in the application of a thin transfer label to the surface of unfilled polyethylene bottle. The specific properties of the silicone rubber outer layer have been found to additionally reduce wear of the roller member surfaces and eliminate the buildup of adhesive materials which might be expelled at the edges of the labels being applied. Natural gum rubbers and synthetic plastic materials of a wide range of resilience and composition have been found to function well in the application of labels in the described manner.

Although the roller element of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings as comprising a body of generally semi-circular cross-section, other body shapes may be employed with satisfactory results provided that the cross-section conforms to a convex configuration presenting a vertex at the line of contiguity between the respective surfaces of the roller members. Roller elements of parabolic and compound-curve cross-section have been found to function well in a label applicator device of the present invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for smoothly applying to a surface a label having a tacky adhesive coating on a face thereof comprising (a) a roller element having a plano-convex surface of longitudinal and circumferential dimensions at least equal to the longitudinal and lateral dimensions respectively of said label,

(b) said roller element being symmetrically divided into a pair of roller members by a longitudinal median plane bisecting said circumferential dimension,

(c) means supporting said members for individual pivotal movement about respective longitudinal axes lying parallel to said median plane,

(d) said supporting means including means responsive to force applied to said piano-convex surface, at and in a direction parallel to said median plane, to move said axes in opposite directions away from said median plane,

whereby movement of said supporting means toward a fixed plane surface tangent to said lano-convex surface at said median plane will result in divergent rolling movement of said members upon said plane surface.

2. A device for smoothly applying to a surface a label having a tacky adhesive coating on a face thereof comprising (a) a plano-convex roller element comprising a pair of piano-convex roller members symmetrically disposed about a median plane and in surface contact with one another at least along the single line of tangency of said element with a plane lying perpendicular to said median plane,

(b) means supporting said members for individual pivotal movement about respective longitudinal axes lying parallel to said median plane,

(c) means associated with said supporting means for moving said roller element toward and urging the respective surfaces of said members into contact with the surface of a label to be applied, and (d) means reactive to said urging to move said axes in opposite directions away from said median plane, whereby said members will roll apart upon the surface of said label and create parallel divergent lines of contact with said label emanating from a single line of contact coincident with said median plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,875,301 8/1932 Fredsell 156-489 X 2,168,525 8/1939 Howard 156-489 X 2,217,325 10/ 1940 Von Hofe 156489 X 2,980,278 4/1961 Carter 156-486 X EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner. R. A. KILLWORTH, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 29-208 

